Belarus: CFWIJ Is Concerned By The Lengthy Interrogation Of Tatsiana Nyadbai
Location: Belarus
Date: March 4, 2021
Tatsiana Nyadbai, a deputy chairman of Belarusian PEN Centre, was interrogated by an investigation committee. The investigation is linked to a raid conducted on the Press Club and the homes of several of its employees on December 22, 2020. Tatsiana Nyadbai worked as a coordinator with the Press Club up until 2017. She has signed non-disclosure agreements that restrict her from disclosing any details of this interrogation. CFWIJ is troubled by the three-hour questioning of the journalist and considers it an intimidation tactic. We offer Tatsiana our support and hope that the investigative committee will respect the journalist's integrity.
Before appearing for the interrogation, Tatsiana said in her statement, “It's hard to say what really is causing a stir. If I understand correctly, they are interested in my past place of work - ‘Press Club’, with which I worked until 2017. The interrogation is scheduled for March 3, at 11 o'clock. I am going to go with a lawyer. I propose to monitor the situation because today, there are often cases when people enter for interrogation in one status and leave (or not) in another. There is a clear understanding that we are not doing or have not done anything wrong, we are acting exclusively in the interests of our country, and we can be proud of what we have done."
Tatsiana was associated with the Press Club as a coordinator before she joined the leadership team at the PEN center of Belarus. After a raid at the Press Club in December 2020, six of the employees were detained. Belarusian human rights activists consider the detained employees taken as political prisoners.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is perturbed about the ongoing threats to press freedom in Belarus. We have serious concerns over how the interrogation with Tatsiana has been kept undisclosed. We urge the authorities heading the investigation committee to ensure fair and just treatment of the journalist.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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